Sacramento 101
Meeting Your
Legislators
SETTING UP A MEETING
Sometimes it will not be possible to meet with your lawmaker
directly, but be assured that their staff is trained to have
these conversations, and they will relay the message. In fact, it
is mostly the staff's job to keep track of how many people
comment on a certain issue.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT STAFF
Staff levels will vary. California State Senators have more
staff members than Assembly members. The majority party
Democrat offices have more staff than Republican offices
on average. Leaders have more staff than other members.
Legislators with districts that cover a big land mass have
more staff and more district offices than those legislators
with smaller, high population density districts.
The smallest Assembly offices will have three staff in the
district and three staff at the capitol. Senators have double
that number.
It should be easy to get a meeting with a staff member and
harder to get a meeting with a senior staff member.
Getting a meeting with a legislator will be dependent on
how busy their schedule is, if the legislator knows you, is
interested in your issue, or understands you represent
people he or she needs for re-election.